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Kāpiti Club
meeting
 
30 January 2025
 
 
President Ross Jordan
 
Secretary
Shirley Stratton
 
Treasurer
Graham Evans
 
Hosted by President Ross
 

January is Vocational Service Month. 

During this period, clubs highlight the importance of the business and professional life of each Rotarian.

Raffle won by Cath - again! It's rigged!!

 

Steve Parrish

Opening thought:

“A blessing for our food and friendship”

Parting thought:

Steve gave a quick overview of the research he’d done on AI and the different questions he’s asked the various AI tools, including a parting thought about Rotary's impact. These resulted in various answers with one being unable to respond. AI Gemini came up with the best one: 

Power struggles divide us. Rotary builds bridges. Let's choose understanding over conflict.

P.S. maybe AI isn't so silly after all.

P.P.S. you can't all just use this every week.

P.P.P.S. AI means artificial intelligence

 
 
Dinner
Fish pie, broccoli and corn, beetroot and green salad
Followed by blackberry and peach cobbler with custard

 

Notices

President Ross

 

Congratulated Shirley and the team who supported her with RYLA.  What an achievement she has delivered for our club, giving the District an outstanding benchmark for the running of RYLA over the last 3 years.  Very warm applause for Shirley.
 
See Shirley's summary below.
 
 
Thank you to Mal Bird, whom Ross described as an outstanding fundraiser.  In this last week Mal raised $4,000 for the Kāpiti Foodbank, which was getting very low on food.
 
Thank you to Ken Shilling who has picked up the Yellow Pages and is now back on track with the deliveries.
 
Ken Shilling - Yellow Pages
 
There had been a lack of information provided by Yellow Pages from Australia. 
The headquarters has been moved to Ken’s – 22 Pinewood Grove, Paraparaumu. Thanks to the 13 members who moved all the Yellow Pages from Al’s to Ken’s garage(s).
 
There is now an opt-out sheet you can follow so you clearly know who not to deliver to.  During the week the deliveries can be done anytime between 8am-8pm.
This weekend the deliveries start from 9am each day with a morning and afternoon shift.
 
Update: WHAT A WEEKEND!!! You are all stars. Fun fact, we are all made of stardust (Editor's husband's note: don't let Steph write the Bulletin on pain meds again).
 
The updates came thick and fast all through a weekend that began promisingly and ended with the sun splitting the stones. It started with an urgent appeal for walkers on Saturday morning.
 
Excitements ranged from a quick call for Muzza Bell to attend for a few hours (4.5) on Saturday afternoon to poor Kay Matheson badly hurting her ankle on Sunday and team Sue, Linda and John stepping up. Steph offered Kay a broad array of pain meds (Legal: it was a joke). Dugald responded that, being a retired school teacher, Kay was self-medicating with sauvignon blanc (Legal: also a joke), Get well soon, Kay.
 
Teams toiled all day both days and knocked off over half the mountain of books. 600 books in a shift were delivered by team Gazza, Mike and Muzza (the latter mistaken for Kevin Stratton, which happens more often than you would think). BUT, not to be outdone (no way, no how) team Sue, Linda and John did 800 books on Sunday!!! A double shift in 26 degree blinding sunshine, so well done those folks.
 
This arvo Ken advised: 
 
Kevin and Shirley have completed 4 Zones by themselves this morning. Picture shows the evidence.  6 zones now completed.
 
 With effort, including week day deliveries we can do a Sir Edmond Hillary by next Sunday night and Knock the  ......
 
Fabulous effort, everyone. Please remember sunhats, sunscreen and plenty of water now summer has finally arrived on the coast.
 
Wood for Good
 
Ross reminded on behalf of Doug about Wood for Good starting on 15/2/25 at Ratanui Road.  Shifts will be 9am-noon and 1pm-4pm.  The roster will come round.
 
Waitangi Day – BBQ at Ross’s
 
President’s BBQ – As there’s no meeting on Waitangi Day there will be a BBQ at Ross and Donna’s.  From 12pm at 19 Petrel Close, Paraparaumu.  Ross will provide the meat.  RSVP to the email that’s coming out and bring along a side or dessert.  For partners and members too.
 
Ian has a book called Mana Tangata which he is happy to loan out to members which gives an informative background to Rotary in the Pacific.
 
Bottles for Good
 
Ross on behalf of Malcolm reminded everybody about the bottle auction.  Bring along a bottle for our final fundraiser for Life Education Trust.  On 20/2 we will have a BBQ at the meeting rooms with the auction.
 
 
Golf Match – 15/03/25
 
Vic is organizing a golf afternoon at Waikanae Golf Club, from 2pm.  More details will follow but it’s intended to be a social get together open to all, including observers and supporters.
 
 
Ken Milne - Almoner
 
  • Steph’s surgery has gone well and she’s making great progress. She has promised to dance on tables at the BBQ.
  • Keith Flack – has unfortunately had his leg amputated from below the knee but is very positive and healing well.
  • Don Breaden has passed away and his service is Monday at 11am at Harbour City Funeral Home.
  • Marilyn: watched Bill Boyd’s funeral online.  He was a World President of Rotary and only the second one from NZ.  What a legacy he has left for us all.
 
5 minute speaker Cath
Veteran minute taker Sue
Dorothy introduced and thanked guest speaker Joanne
Joanne has had a fascinating and diverse career
The Mountain
It's roughly here. Thanks, men.
5 Minute Speaker
 
Cath introduced herself by saying she’d prepared a presentation that was pages long and realized she had too much so was going to focus on why she joined Rotary.
 
Kath was at a function and overheard Anthony and Paul talking about Rotary and made a joke about the secret handshake.  They kindly corrected Kath and invited her to a meeting. 
 
The values of Rotary resonated with Cath and align with her work as a registered nurse working in the mental health area, amongst other work.  She really enjoys helping others and being part of an organization that has these values.
 
We love having you as part of our Club, Cath!
 
Guest Speaker: Joanne Greig
 
Lawyer and writer Joanne was introduced by Dorothy. Her presentation was titled From Global Arenas to Grass Roots.
 
Joanne was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court and after a stint in private practice, she decided this wasn’t the kind of law she wanted to practise.  She obtained a role at the UN offices first in Vienna, New York, back to Vienna, Kosovo, and full circle back to NZ.
 
Joanne’s education laid the foundation for her international roles – service, law political studies and international relations.  Diverse perspectives are needed when working internationally
Her roles linked to the UN involved work on drugs and crime and countering international crime and a peacekeeping Policy Liaison officer role.
 
Joanne was then recalled to Vienna but was looking for something different and obtained a role with the UN in Pristina, Kosovo, formerly Yugoslavia, as a Legal Officer.  She worked on setting up a UN presence there, amongst other legal work.
 
She came home as she has an elderly mum and no longer had a need to work
Joanne has taken up a role at the Wildbase Recovery Centre at the Esplanade in Palmerston North, which focuses on the rehabilitation and education of birds.  According to Sue, having visited there herself, this is a place well worth a trip. Interestingly Marilyn pointed out the Takaro Rotary has played a big part in establishing this facility, as one of the donors.
 
Joanne has taken up writing and authored a crime series called “Crime Series Kosovo” under the nom de plume Tasmin Turner.  She has also penned other books and is working on a new historical series.  These books were available on the night and can be purchased via Amazon.
 
Websites for coaching and books
 
A very interesting question and answer session followed.
Thank you from Dorothy.
 
Team Stratton for the win
It's a hard knock life. Celia resting.
 
Team Sue, Linda and John going all out for the record: 800 books! We better not find them down a culvert...
Sergeant's Session: Sgt Anthony
  • Is going to start shoulder-tapping members for stories. You have been warned.
  • First fine went to Captain Tim for his impressive parking at the meeting
  • Cath for winning the raffle 2 weeks in a row
  • Anthony had intended to fine all those talking and interrupting the speaker but tonight everybody was on their best behaviour and he couldn’t find anyone guilty of this
  • Some birthdays, with Mark buying the box as he’s 70 on Saturday and has celebrated with a trip to Melbourne to watch the tennis.
 
Team RYLA
 
The hard working bedding crew
Team activity
Great weather for a shower al fresco
Fantastic... whatever that is
Esteemed presenters
 
Thanks to Sue for the excellent meeting notes, again, and Marilyn, Ken Shilling, John Scutter, Murray Bell for photos.
 
This week
 
6 February: Waitangi Day - BBQ at Ross and Donna's 19 Petrel Close Paraparaumu from 12pm come rain or come shine.
 
Coming up
 
13 February: Susan Church - Age Concern
 
15 February: Wood for Good working bee
 
Saturday 15 March: 2pm Golf Tournament at Waikanae Golf Course
 
 
D9940 RYLA 2025 Update
 
RYLA is a 5-day live-in programme for 18 – 24-year-olds designed to help young people develop their teamwork and communication skills and fulfil their potential as leaders. 26 participants attended - 15 females and 11 males, sponsored by 20 Rotary clubs from D9940.
 
John Williams from Fizz Logic facilitated the course for the 22nd time, supported by Ganesh Cherian from Hutt City Rotary.
 
The Blue Team – a dedicated and enthusiastic group of 9 past RYLA participants - gave up their week (and time prior) to ensure that the programme was on task and to present some of the sessions.
 
The programme:
a mix of:
  • presentations and workshops facilitated by community and business leaders - particularly focusing on leadership development
  • opportunities for the exchange of ideas, opinions and experiences in discussion groups
  • open sessions, sport and keep fit exercises
  • the opportunity to experience and practice leadership skills in action.
 
Speakers included: Liam Dick - Rylarian – Self leadership, Ben Wakefield - Waste Recycling, Pera Barrett – Finding Purpose, Gregory Fortuin – Stuff Happens, Cherie Chu-Fuluifaga – Multicultural Leadership and Dr Sven Hansen - Resilience.
 
Activities included: Morning exercise, Bake Off - the cakes and biscuits were donated to the Kāpiti foodbank, Tetra Map – Behavioural styles, Nga Manu visit, Improv, 10 pin bowling, RYLA Master (like Task Master), Team Challenges, BBQ with Kāpiti Rotary and visiting Rotarians.
 
Thank you to all the Kāpiti Rotarians who helped at RYLA. The programme would not have been the success that it was without help with such things as – storing the gear, setting up and packing down, making the beds, printing, providing delicious baking, managing the dining room, collecting newspapers, sorting electronic gear, providing the BBQ, helping at the BBQ, attending sessions, supporting the participants, and much, much more. Such a supportive Rotary Club – ‘Service above Self’.
 
The Participants:
 
The quiet individuals who arrived on Wednesday left on Sunday as a chatty, happy, cohesive group of young leaders - they took away much to think about in terms of their own personal development, and their leadership skills.
 
Summary of participant evaluation RYLA 2025:
 
The speaker sessions were rated 4.2/5 and the activities 4.3/5. The average rating for the overall experience at RYLA was 9.08/10 – a great testament to the value of the course.
 
 
Blue Team
The whole gang 2025